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Runners Finish Season on Top

Nov 06, 2015 12:15PM ● By Greg James

By Greg James

 South Valley - Riverton and Herriman high school cross country teams have been losing sleep, dreaming about the things they could be. The teams finished their regular seasons with top finishes at the Region 4 cross country championships. 

“Greatness is achieved by hard work day in and day out, months and years before the opportunity arrives,” is the quote that greets visitors to the Riverton cross country team page. As a team they have set goals to leave a legacy. Herriman boasts motivational quotes such as, “Your mind can make you train, your body can create power, but only your heart can make you a champion,” by Joe Newton. Both teams crossed the finish line this season.

The Herriman girls placed third, one point ahead of the Silverwolves, at the Region 4 cross country championships. 

Mustang sophomore Milee Enger placed 16th overall, and junior Emma Loftus placed 17th at the championships. They paced their team to its third-place finish. Kennady Bekmezian finished 20th, Rebecca Bronson 21st and Michelle Stanley 28th.

The Silverwolves were led by sophomore Samantha Jacobson, who placed tenth. The other scoring runners were Katie Christopherson, Zoe Bartlome, Kara Johansen and Rachel Rigby. 

The boys teams had respectable finishes.  Riverton place fifth overall and Herriman sixth. 

The Silverwolves’ top three finishers were Ethan Matz, Justin Roylance and Tracen Warnick. Herriman was led by Adam Wood, Caleb Brown and Tanner Webb.

Cross country is a sport in which teams and individuals run races over natural terrain. Racing surfaces can include hills, open country and gravel roads. Team scores are determined by adding the finishing places of the top five for each team, and, like golf the lowest score wins. 

Lucy Biles from Herriman was last year’s individual state champion. The Herriman girls placed fourth overall in the state last season.

Three South Valley athletes were named to the Deseret News cross country academic all-state teams: Riverton’s Lauren Lund and Brady Allred, and Herriman’s Rachel Kunz. The runners were nominated by their coaches or athletic directors and maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade point average throughout high school.

The state cross country championships are scheduled for Oct. 21 at Sugar House Park (after press deadline).